Land Rover Freelander 2 Opinions

dnme

As some know, I have been shopping around for a SUV for a while with the intention of perhaps purchasing in the new year. I have been looking at models such as the Sportage, CX-5, Kuga etc all relatively new. Another option I'd like to explore is the used premium badge market. I wonder what are your opinions of the Land Rover Freelander ? In particular the Freelander 2 in a SPORT TD4 2.2 Automatic configuration ?

Here's an example
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Land-Rover/Freelander/2-SPORT-/37713819313251190/advert?channel=CARS

Mileage, I do about 15k pa so barely in diesel territory. Rural commute about 40 miles per day and a maybe 200-300 miles on a weekend. I'm also very tall.I have no problem paying a bit more in road tax for the right vehicle / config but I'd really like to keep the mpg on the right side of 38-40mpg.

I'd be interested in testing one certainly and wouldn't mind coming up in the years to a 3-4 year old. I'd very much welcome any well informed opinions.

Hootanany

You will get to know the dealership's receptionist very well.

dnme

Hootanany wrote: »

You will get to know the dealership's receptionist very well.

Well informed ? anything.... as in absolutely anything at all to base that on would be great - thanks a mil !

Red Nissan

Hootanany wrote: »

You will get to know the dealership's receptionist very well.

Very, very well indeed.

Red Nissan

dnme wrote: »

Well informed ? anything.... as in absolutely anything at all to base that on would be great - thanks a mil !

Would you take Jeremy Clarkson's word for it? That's the Top Gear BBC TV show guru chappie.

dnme

So it's a pile of crap that breaks down. Grand I'll look elsewhere. Bit of background would be great but whatareyagonnado.

sunnysoutheast

dnme wrote: »

Well informed ? anything.... as in absolutely anything at all to base that on would be great - thanks a mil !

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/freelander-2-2006/?section=bad

"In theory a great vehicle but cannot recommend, particularly used, due to number of faults."

dnme

Any alternatives you'd recommend a look at ?

Hootanany

Rav 4
Dacia Duster
To name just few.

Bpmull

My parents were going to buy one of them jeeps in 2007 new when they first came out the top of the range one auto. But they went for a Santa Fe 4wd delux auto 2.2 which had all the extras 7 seats too. It was a great jeep they kept it for 3 years and had no issues. So the may be worth looking at but I don't know what they are like reliability wise when they age abit and the mileage gets high but as I said are one cause no trouble expect them to do 30-33 mpg but then the freelander wouldn't do anymore I'd imagine.

veetwin

Hootanany wrote: »

Rav 4
Dacia Duster
To name just few.

OK so a well equipped low mileage Freelander would be a bad choice but a Dacia Duster would be wise investment for someone looking for a premium SUV:rolleyes:

dnme

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/freelander-2-2006/?section=bad

"In theory a great vehicle but cannot recommend, particularly used, due to number of faults."

Yea I had seen that. The problem is that th every same website votes the Freelander as it's best SUV
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/topten/top-ten-off-roaders-and-suvs/

That's why I posted my OP.

Also it scores brilliantly for reliability and owner satisfaction in the Autoexpress customer survey
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rover/freelander-2/reliability

So I am none the wiser.

Peter says one thing, Paul says another.

L-M

The old Freelanders had the bad name, probably hard to shake.

If you're not looking for a 7 seater they're a nice alternative. If you could get a HSE you would find yourself in a much nicer spec. That S you linked in the middle of the range, but has the side steps and the towbar and what could possibly be retro fitted leather.

Good engine to go, as well.

Mycroft H

I'd start ignoring what tripe is on honest john for a while.....

racso1975

If it was me I would go for the nissan pathfinder 5 or 7 seater

astrofool

Limerick man wrote: »

The old Freelanders had the bad name, probably hard to shake.

If you're not looking for a 7 seater they're a nice alternative. If you could get a HSE you would find yourself in a much nicer spec. That S you linked in the middle of the range, but has the side steps and the towbar and what could possibly be retro fitted leather.

Good engine to go, as well.

S
SE
HSE

last I checked

dnme

racso1975 wrote: »

If it was me I would go for the nissan pathfinder 5 or 7 seater

Pathfinder eh . . . .

as opposed to an X-Trail ?

I should as I am not after 7 seats, 5 seats is more than enough. I'd be using the thing to chauffeur a labrador, possibly tow a boat and after that do th eusual rural commute and weekend miles. I guess I am after a bit of style and power.

racso1975

Take them both out and I bet you will like the pathfinder more. I did anyway prob was the pf was out of my bracket and knew if I got x trail I would always be thinking second best

dnme

racso1975 wrote: »

Take them both out and I bet you will like the pathfinder more. I did anyway prob was the pf was out of my bracket and knew if I got x trail I would always be thinking second best

A search on carzone seems to suggest that the Pathfinder stopped being made around 2009 which limits my options a little. Also tax seems to be 1000+ so Im wondering, are they decent and are they reliable ? Is the fact that theyre no longer made a good or a bad thing ?

visual

The older freelander had a bad reputation and known to blow head gaskets.

I worked with a chap who got one of 2nd generations as company car. When he left he bought it off the company because he liked it so much.

The one you linked isnt a bargain although I do like the low mileage but feel there is better to be got for the money.

racso1975

dnme wrote: »

A search on carzone seems to suggest that the Pathfinder stopped being made around 2009 which limits my options a little. Also tax seems to be 1000+ so Im wondering, are they decent and are they reliable ? Is the fact that theyre no longer made a good or a bad thing ?

Oh they are still made just not being sold here anymore and cannot tell you why however you can get newer models up to 2013 up north and in England.

L-M

astrofool wrote: »

S
SE
HSE

last I checked

There was an E back in the day, I'm gone awhile . There would have been an E back then.

PN14

The old petrol freelanders had plenty of issues. Give a dog a bad name its hard to shake off that rep. The diesels engine wise were more reliable. The sister had one for a few years basic model it was a grand comfortable thing dead as a doornail though. The newer Freelander 2 model diesel had a much livier engine. Biggest problem the sister had with her freelander 1 was electrical issues e.g. electric window motors one each side in the space of a few weeks 200 odd euro each. Parts were expensive.

I would say engine wise the freelander 2 should be fairly robust however I would be doubtful about them from electrical issues. This is based on friend of mine who had 2010 range rover there was always something electrical wrong with it granted this prob has more electric gizmos to go wrong. I doubt you'd achieve 40mpg from one either.

exador

Freelander 2 is a massive improvement on the older freelander 1...The newer Freelander 2 is the most reliable of the LR range IMO... You won't get 40 mpg and they are a bit pricey but overall I would highly recommend.

L-M

PN14 wrote: »

The old petrol freelanders had plenty of issues. Give a dog a bad name its hard to shake off that rep. The diesels engine wise were more reliable. The sister had one for a few years basic model it was a grand comfortable thing dead as a doornail though. The newer Freelander 2 model diesel had a much livier engine. Biggest problem the sister had with her freelander 1 was electrical issues e.g. electric window motors one each side in the space of a few weeks 200 odd euro each. Parts were expensive.

I would say engine wise the freelander 2 should be fairly robust however I would be doubtful about them from electrical issues. This is based on friend of mine who had 2010 range rover there was always something electrical wrong with it granted this prob has more electric gizmos to go wrong. I doubt you'd achieve 40mpg from one either.

Funny how in one breath you say its hard to shake a reputation and in the other talk about completely different vehicles!

PN14

What I was trying to say that the whole range got a bad name from the petrol models but that the diesel versions were more reliable than that name deserved.

sunnysoutheast

BX 19 wrote: »

I'd start ignoring what tripe is on honest john for a while.....

Why?

I don't agree with HJ on everything (I've had a few email conversations with him) but his site has a wealth of relevant information on it.

sunnysoutheast

dnme wrote: »

Yea I had seen that. The problem is that th every same website votes the Freelander as it's best SUV
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/topten/top-ten-off-roaders-and-suvs/

That's why I posted my OP.

Also it scores brilliantly for reliability and owner satisfaction in the Autoexpress customer survey
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/land-rover/freelander-2/reliability

So I am none the wiser.

Peter says one thing, Paul says another.

I'm not sure the two positions are necessarily incompatible, it may be a great car if you buy new and then offload but it seems to be proving very unreliable as a second-hand buy.

A pity as we would be in the market for this type of car very soon but I wouldn't go near a used one.